Improvement in street-sweeping machines



3 Sheets--Sheet1. l. EDSON.

streat sweeping Machine.

No. 159,025. Patgntedlan2fi,l875.

SSheets ShBetZ. I. EDSUN. v

Street-Sweeping Machinm No.159,0 25. PatentedJan 26,1875.

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3 Sheets--Sh.eet 3.

J. EDSUN.

Street-Sweeping Machine.

No, 159,025 PatentedJan.'2 6,1875

UNITED S ATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACOB EDSON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN STREET-SWEEPING MACHINES.

S pecification forming part re -Letters, Datont Noamsi datedfiamary 26, 1675 ;--e.pplicati':srfiled. December 1874.

- To allwltom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JACOB EDSON, of Boston, in the county of Suifolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Street-Sweeping Machines; and I do hereby declare that the fol lowing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and t0 the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in street-sweeping machines; and consists in an improved construction of the frame and stays by which the rotary brush is supported; also,

in an improved lifting and holding device for the brush; also, in an improvement in the manner of attaching and detaehin' g the driving wheels to and from the driving-shaft; also, in the employmentof an adjustable independent dust-guard, that is adjustable independent of the rotary brush.

'(Jn the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a ground plan of my improved street-sweeping machine. Fig. 2 represents a cross-section on the line A B, shown in Fig. 1. Fig.3 represents a longitudinal section of the rotary brush, which section is made on the j an enlarged eross-section on the line E F, shown in Fig. 1. "Fig. 5 represents an end view of the brush and support, seen from D, in Fig. 1; and Fig. 6 represents an enlarged cross-section on the line G11, shown in Fig. 2. Similarletters refer to similar parts wherever they occur on the diti'erent parts of the drawlugs.

a a a" represents the frame of the machine. b b are the driving-wheels. c is the drivingshaft provided with the bevel-gear d, that e11- gages into a bevel-gear, e, on the intermediate shaft f, from which a rotary motion is conveyed t0 the brush-shaft g, by means of the endless chain It and suitable chain-pulleys on the intermediate shaft f and brush-shaft g, as

usual. The brush-shaft g is made of wood, and provided in each end with a short shaft or pin, it, that is made to revolve each in a closed bearing, k k, as shown in Fig. 3. To

is inserted a movable pin or shaft, 12, provided with a crank, q, as shown. Between the bearin gs of the stand 0, the pin or shaft 1) is made as a pair of cams, m n,- each of which is fiattencd centrally with the axis of the pin 10, as

shown in detail in Fig. 6. The band or strap m is attached to the cam m. and the band or strap a is attached in a similar manner to the cam n, as shown in Fig. 6. By means of the crank q, pin 19, cams m n, and the bands or straps m n attached to the bearings'k k] of the brush-shaft g, it'wil-l readily be seen that the 1 latter can be raised or lowered at pleasure,

siniply by turning of the crank q, and when the cams on n are turned to a position as shown in Fig. 6, corresponding to the position of the brush when raised to its highestposition, they will remain in such a position on account of the strain of the bands or straps m n being in the direction of the center of the pin By turning the crank q in a direction toward the left, the brush is instantly lowered.

To the driving-shaft c is hinged an arm, r,

site end t to the shaft or frame-work a, as

shown in Fig. l,by which arrangements great strength is obtained for the support and proper position of the brush-shaft during its operation. The outer end of the frame a is connected to the outer end of the support I by means of a stationary stay or brace, u, as shown in Fig. 1. n represents the dust-guard movable on a stationary shaft or bar, 10, and is provided with a chain, or its equivalent, m, by means of which it can be raised'and lowered independent of the position ofthe brushshaft, as may be desirable.

The device for detaching the driving-wheels from the driving-shaft is fully shown in Fig.

4, and is arranged as follows: To the shaft 0 r is keyed or attached in each end thereof, a ratchet-wheel, 1 as shown, the wheels revolve freely on the shaft, and have attached to their hubs or spokes a ring or box, z, in which is hinged a pawl, 1, that is kept in contact with the teeth of the ratchet-wheel 3 by means of a suitable spring, 2, asshown. An eccentric cam, 3, is located in relation to the pawl 1, as shown in said Fig. 4., and its shaft or pin projects through the shell or box 2, where it can be operated by means of an ordinary wrench or in-a similar way. When it isdesired to disconnect a driving-wheel from the shaft 0, all that is needed'to do is to turn the eccentric earn 3 about one-half of a revolution, when the pawl l is forced from the teeth of the ratchet-wheel y, and when. in this position the machine can be drawn over the ground without revolving the brush.

Having thus fully described the nature, con struction, and operation of my invention, I

' wish to secure by Letters Patent and claim-- 1. The combination of the frame or shafts a a, with the support I and stay or brace 11, as and for the purpose described.

2. In combination, with the straps or hands -m n, the cams or eccentrics m n, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The cam or eccentric 3, in combination with the pawl 1, spring 2, ratchet-wheel y, the shaft 0, and the driving-wheel b, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In combination with the rotary brush 9 44 of the independently-adjustable dust-guard v, as and for the purpose herein set forth and described. V

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own invention, I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

J A0013 EDSON.

\Vitnesses ALBAN ANDmtN, JOHN R. HEARD. 

